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The University of Utah Athletics
Soccer
Soccer to Start September with Weber State
8/30/2024 11:31 AM | Soccer
The Utes will host the Wildcats for another Beehive state showdown on Sunday night
SALT LAKE CITY - Coming off their first loss of the season, the University of Utah women's soccer team will close out its home stand with a match against Weber State at Ute Field on Sunday at 6 p.m. Fans can watch on ESPN+, with Brian Preece and Brooke Hale calling the action.
SUNDAY'S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Sunday, September 1 |6 p.m. (MT)
Utah (1-1-1) vs. Weber State (0-3-2)
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah | Ute Field
Live Stats: Click Here
TV: ESPN+ (Watch)
Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer
Game Day Promotions
Beat the Heat with Utah soccer! The first 100 fans at Ute Field will receive a Utah Soccer towel and a snow cone voucher.
Everything Weber
Another beehive state opponent that the Utes know well, Utah and Weber have met on the pitch 17 times in the past 27 years. Their last meeting, in Ogden, ended in a 1-1 draw, while their meeting on Valentines Day of 2021 pushed through two overtimes to close out 1-1 as well. Before the ties, the Utes were at a 6-0 streak with the Wildcats.
Craig Sanders is at the helm of Weber's soccer team. After being promoted from assistant coach in 2020, he has completed four seasons leading the 'Cats. Weber is currently sitting on a 0-3-2 record, with their last meetup ending 0-4 in Texas Tech's favor.
Junior Sammie Sofonia leads the 'Cats with 15 shots this season, while junior Ali Swenson is close behind with a total of 11. Weber's goalkeepers, sophomore Maya Cordova and senior Hadley Harris have a combined tally of 22 saves this season, totaling a saving average of 0.68.
1st Half Keepers
In Wednesday's game against #19 Utah State, junior goalkeeper Kasey Wardle, made two saves in the 32nd and 38th minute, keeping the first half level at 0-0. This is the third of three games this season that the goalkeepers of Utah have not allowed a goal for the first half. Last season, the Utes accomplished the same feat in four matches in August of the 2023 season.
The First Fall
Utah fell to an undefeated #19 Utah State 2-0 on Wednesday night at home. After a scoreless first half, the Aggies came back for two back-to-back goals in the second half. The Utes fought hard to close the deficit, but ultimately fell short. This loss put an end to the Utes 7-0 win streak in matches against the Aggies and marks their first loss to a ranked team this season.
If She Could, She Wood
In the ninetieth minute of Utah's season opener, freshman midfielder Bella Woods earned a free kick off a handball from Gonzaga. With pressure to take the lead of the tied game, Woods's shot curled around the Bulldogs' defenders and into the back of the net, earning the win for the Utes.
Bella Brings Home the Hardware
After her game-winning score against Gonzaga, Woods was recognized as the first Big 12 Freshman of the Week of 2024. She's the first Ute to earn a conference weekly award since Katie O'Kane in Oct. of 2023.
Two for Taliana
Taliana Kaufusi found the back of the net for the second straight match on Aug. 22 against GCU, after netting her team's first goal of the season on Aug. 15 against Gonzaga. Kaufusi is the first Ute to start the season with goals in each of the squad's first two contests since Chelsea Forbes in 2009.
On the Board Early
The Utes haven't wasted any time getting on the scoreboard in their first two tilts of 2024. In both matches, they've tallied a goal with the first 10 minutes. The last time the Utes accomplished that feat in consecutive contests was in Oct. of 2018, when Holly Daugirda knocked in a goal in the ninth minute against Oregon State, followed one match later by a seventh minute score courtesy of Paola van der Veen.
Stacking Up Shots
The Utes have outshot two of their three opponents this season. In their match against GCU, they established a heavy advantage in total shots, outshooting their guests by a 14-3 margin. Utah could only boast of such a significant advantage in that statistic four times in 2023, the largest being a 32-12 margin in their win over Oregon.
2024 Utah Women's Soccer Roster
Coach Hideki Nakada has assembled a squad that consists of 13 returners and 12 newcomers. The list of players back in Utah Red include 2023 leading scorer Katie O'Kane and Taliana Kaufusi, who topped the team in goals in 2022. Brooklyn Blaylock and 2023 assists leader Kelly Bullock have also returned after starting all 20 matches a season ago, as has Kasey Wardle, who finished as one of the conference leaders in saves as a sophomore.
Among the many new Utes on Nakada's roster are true freshmen Callie Blaylock, Londyn Lovell, Mia Paugh, Siena Zunino, Katie Callaway and Bella Ganiere. The Utah staff also added six transfers, including sophomore Landen Matthews, junior Erin Gibbs, senior Devi Dudley and graduate students Grace Watkins, Rachel Bastone and Ava Hetzel.
NCAA Appearances
The Utes are heading into 2024 aiming for their ninth NCAA Tournament berth and their first since 2019. Utah's best showing the national postseason occurred in 2016, when victories over Texas Tech and Florida State propelled them to the Sweet 16.
2024 Schedule
After Sunday's match, Utah will travel to Baton Rouge to take on LSU on Sept. 5. This four-match home stretch will kick off a schedule where the Utes play at home a total of 11 times. This season, Utah will face off against two ranked teams, BYU and Texas Tech, and have a match against TCU who is receiving votes nationally. The Ute's first Big 12 match will take place at Ute Field on Sept. 12, where they'll square off with the Arizona Wildcats.
New Conference, Same Utes
The 2024 campaign will be Utah's first as members of the Big 12, the fourth different conference the Utes have competed in since the program's inception as members of the WAC in 1995. Utah posted a 7-8-2 mark during that initial season, then went 13-7 in 1999 when they played in the Mountain West Conference for the first time. Their first foray into Pac-12 play was in 2011, when they finished 10-9-1.
The list of new league foes the Utes will have to contend with include a Texas Tech team that won the conference's regular season title, then reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament, as well as a BYU squad that reached the College Cup for the second time in three seasons. Utah will also be taking the field against Iowa State and Kansas State for the first time in program history.
New Year, New Staff
In addition to the new faces on the field for the Utes, coach Hideki Nakada also added two new coaches to his staff.
Assistant coach Travis Smith officially came on board in January after three seasons at Kansas, where he helped the Jayhawks rack up 20 victories, including wins over squads ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation. Smith also spent time at Brandeis High School, where his pupils included three all-state and seven all-region selections. He helped the squad to a district title in 2018 and, two years later, the Broncos finished the season ranked at No. 9 in the state.
Fellow assistant Jackie Poortinga was hired in May after a busy last several years that included functioning as Phoenix Rising's Director of Goalkeeping, a position she's held since 2021. Her responsibilities there included overseeing the development of the organization's goalkeepers, developing and implementing the team's goalkeeper training curriculum and identifying talent for the purposes of improving the roster. She also functioned as an Assistant Goalkeeper Coach for the Phoenix Rising FC Men's USL Championship team.
Tickets
Season tickets for 2024 are currently on sale, with single-match tickets going on sale on Aug. 12. Tickets can be purchased by visiting utahtickets.com/soccer/. All ticket sales are cashless and all tickets are digital, including MUSS Tickets. Pre-purchasing tickets will allow fans to obtain the best price. Those on the Utah player pass list will have their tickets added to their account associated with the email provided by the student-athletes.
To ensure a successful experience with digital ticketing, fans are encouraged to download their tickets to the wallet on their smartphone for presentation upon arrival at the stadium gates to expedite the entry process. Ticket sales and customer service will be available at the ticket office near the main entrance.
Next Up
The Utes will be traveling to LSU to take on the Tigers on Sept. 5 at 6 p.m.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer), and the official mobile app of Utah Athletics, Utah360 -- download here.
SUNDAY'S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Sunday, September 1 |6 p.m. (MT)
Utah (1-1-1) vs. Weber State (0-3-2)
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah | Ute Field
Live Stats: Click Here
TV: ESPN+ (Watch)
Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer
Game Day Promotions
Beat the Heat with Utah soccer! The first 100 fans at Ute Field will receive a Utah Soccer towel and a snow cone voucher.
Everything Weber
Another beehive state opponent that the Utes know well, Utah and Weber have met on the pitch 17 times in the past 27 years. Their last meeting, in Ogden, ended in a 1-1 draw, while their meeting on Valentines Day of 2021 pushed through two overtimes to close out 1-1 as well. Before the ties, the Utes were at a 6-0 streak with the Wildcats.
Craig Sanders is at the helm of Weber's soccer team. After being promoted from assistant coach in 2020, he has completed four seasons leading the 'Cats. Weber is currently sitting on a 0-3-2 record, with their last meetup ending 0-4 in Texas Tech's favor.
Junior Sammie Sofonia leads the 'Cats with 15 shots this season, while junior Ali Swenson is close behind with a total of 11. Weber's goalkeepers, sophomore Maya Cordova and senior Hadley Harris have a combined tally of 22 saves this season, totaling a saving average of 0.68.
1st Half Keepers
In Wednesday's game against #19 Utah State, junior goalkeeper Kasey Wardle, made two saves in the 32nd and 38th minute, keeping the first half level at 0-0. This is the third of three games this season that the goalkeepers of Utah have not allowed a goal for the first half. Last season, the Utes accomplished the same feat in four matches in August of the 2023 season.
The First Fall
Utah fell to an undefeated #19 Utah State 2-0 on Wednesday night at home. After a scoreless first half, the Aggies came back for two back-to-back goals in the second half. The Utes fought hard to close the deficit, but ultimately fell short. This loss put an end to the Utes 7-0 win streak in matches against the Aggies and marks their first loss to a ranked team this season.
If She Could, She Wood
In the ninetieth minute of Utah's season opener, freshman midfielder Bella Woods earned a free kick off a handball from Gonzaga. With pressure to take the lead of the tied game, Woods's shot curled around the Bulldogs' defenders and into the back of the net, earning the win for the Utes.
Bella Brings Home the Hardware
After her game-winning score against Gonzaga, Woods was recognized as the first Big 12 Freshman of the Week of 2024. She's the first Ute to earn a conference weekly award since Katie O'Kane in Oct. of 2023.
Two for Taliana
Taliana Kaufusi found the back of the net for the second straight match on Aug. 22 against GCU, after netting her team's first goal of the season on Aug. 15 against Gonzaga. Kaufusi is the first Ute to start the season with goals in each of the squad's first two contests since Chelsea Forbes in 2009.
On the Board Early
The Utes haven't wasted any time getting on the scoreboard in their first two tilts of 2024. In both matches, they've tallied a goal with the first 10 minutes. The last time the Utes accomplished that feat in consecutive contests was in Oct. of 2018, when Holly Daugirda knocked in a goal in the ninth minute against Oregon State, followed one match later by a seventh minute score courtesy of Paola van der Veen.
Stacking Up Shots
The Utes have outshot two of their three opponents this season. In their match against GCU, they established a heavy advantage in total shots, outshooting their guests by a 14-3 margin. Utah could only boast of such a significant advantage in that statistic four times in 2023, the largest being a 32-12 margin in their win over Oregon.
2024 Utah Women's Soccer Roster
Coach Hideki Nakada has assembled a squad that consists of 13 returners and 12 newcomers. The list of players back in Utah Red include 2023 leading scorer Katie O'Kane and Taliana Kaufusi, who topped the team in goals in 2022. Brooklyn Blaylock and 2023 assists leader Kelly Bullock have also returned after starting all 20 matches a season ago, as has Kasey Wardle, who finished as one of the conference leaders in saves as a sophomore.
Among the many new Utes on Nakada's roster are true freshmen Callie Blaylock, Londyn Lovell, Mia Paugh, Siena Zunino, Katie Callaway and Bella Ganiere. The Utah staff also added six transfers, including sophomore Landen Matthews, junior Erin Gibbs, senior Devi Dudley and graduate students Grace Watkins, Rachel Bastone and Ava Hetzel.
NCAA Appearances
The Utes are heading into 2024 aiming for their ninth NCAA Tournament berth and their first since 2019. Utah's best showing the national postseason occurred in 2016, when victories over Texas Tech and Florida State propelled them to the Sweet 16.
2024 Schedule
After Sunday's match, Utah will travel to Baton Rouge to take on LSU on Sept. 5. This four-match home stretch will kick off a schedule where the Utes play at home a total of 11 times. This season, Utah will face off against two ranked teams, BYU and Texas Tech, and have a match against TCU who is receiving votes nationally. The Ute's first Big 12 match will take place at Ute Field on Sept. 12, where they'll square off with the Arizona Wildcats.
New Conference, Same Utes
The 2024 campaign will be Utah's first as members of the Big 12, the fourth different conference the Utes have competed in since the program's inception as members of the WAC in 1995. Utah posted a 7-8-2 mark during that initial season, then went 13-7 in 1999 when they played in the Mountain West Conference for the first time. Their first foray into Pac-12 play was in 2011, when they finished 10-9-1.
The list of new league foes the Utes will have to contend with include a Texas Tech team that won the conference's regular season title, then reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament, as well as a BYU squad that reached the College Cup for the second time in three seasons. Utah will also be taking the field against Iowa State and Kansas State for the first time in program history.
New Year, New Staff
In addition to the new faces on the field for the Utes, coach Hideki Nakada also added two new coaches to his staff.
Assistant coach Travis Smith officially came on board in January after three seasons at Kansas, where he helped the Jayhawks rack up 20 victories, including wins over squads ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation. Smith also spent time at Brandeis High School, where his pupils included three all-state and seven all-region selections. He helped the squad to a district title in 2018 and, two years later, the Broncos finished the season ranked at No. 9 in the state.
Fellow assistant Jackie Poortinga was hired in May after a busy last several years that included functioning as Phoenix Rising's Director of Goalkeeping, a position she's held since 2021. Her responsibilities there included overseeing the development of the organization's goalkeepers, developing and implementing the team's goalkeeper training curriculum and identifying talent for the purposes of improving the roster. She also functioned as an Assistant Goalkeeper Coach for the Phoenix Rising FC Men's USL Championship team.
Tickets
Season tickets for 2024 are currently on sale, with single-match tickets going on sale on Aug. 12. Tickets can be purchased by visiting utahtickets.com/soccer/. All ticket sales are cashless and all tickets are digital, including MUSS Tickets. Pre-purchasing tickets will allow fans to obtain the best price. Those on the Utah player pass list will have their tickets added to their account associated with the email provided by the student-athletes.
To ensure a successful experience with digital ticketing, fans are encouraged to download their tickets to the wallet on their smartphone for presentation upon arrival at the stadium gates to expedite the entry process. Ticket sales and customer service will be available at the ticket office near the main entrance.
Next Up
The Utes will be traveling to LSU to take on the Tigers on Sept. 5 at 6 p.m.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer), and the official mobile app of Utah Athletics, Utah360 -- download here.
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